This May at Scandinavia House, ASF invites you to intimate meetings of LIV with Liv Ullmann, an openhearted staged conversation with Tom Remlov former CEO of Norwegian Film. One of Norway’s most famous international stars of the stage and screen, Liv Ullmann has performed throughout the world and is legendary for her artistic collaborations on film with Ingmar Bergman. In the course of this program held on six evenings from May 23 through May 28, the audience is invited on a journey through her life as an actress, director, scriptwriter, author of two international bestselling books as well as a humanitarian activist.
Having first opened in Norway in 2019 to outstanding reviews through nationwide tours with Riksteatret, followed by several runs at National Theater in Oslo, LIV has since been seen by more than 20,000 viewers in Norway, with a shortened version filmed for Norwegian Television. The six-evening run in English at Scandinavia House will be the first performed internationally.
Focusing on Liv as a traveler in every sense of the word, the performance presents an in-depth look at the varied and unique life she has lived as actress, director, writer and humanitarian, integrating photos and audiovisual clips from her extensive career. The core of each performance is centered around the living meeting in the present between audience and stage – and the meeting between Liv and Tom on stage. Each specific audience therefore influences the performance through its presence and reactions, giving the staged conversation between the two room for improvisation.
This performance will take place in Victor Borge Hall; attendees are required to follow all Scandinavia House safety protocols, including wearing masks during the program and observing social distancing rules in signage. Please read our full safety protocols here. The opening night program will be followed by performances nightly at 7:30 PM from Tuesday, May 24 through Friday, May 27, concluding with a TK matinee on Saturday, May 28.
About Liv Ullmann
Liv Ullmann is an internationally renowned actress, director, writer, and humanitarian who has served as an Executive Trustee of the American-Scandinavian Foundation since 2006. Ms. Ullmann grew up in Trondheim, Norway, and made her theater debut in The Diary of Anne Frank (1957) in Stavanger. She has starred in numerous films and theater productions all over the world, including five times on Broadway. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Ms. Ullmann worked closely with Swedish director Ingmar Bergman, appearing in lead roles in films such as Persona (1968), Cries and Whispers (1973), Scenes from a Marriage (1973) and opposite Ingrid Bergman in Autumn Sonata (1978). Among her numerous acting accolades, Ms. Ullmann earned Oscar nominations for her work in The Emigrants (1971), and Face to Face (1976).
She wrote and directed the Danish film Sophie (1992) and adapted and directed the Norwegian film based on Sigrid Undset’s epic novel Kristin Lavransdatter (1995). Among other films she has adapted and directed is Miss Julie (2014) with Jessica Chastain, who won an Oscar this year. Ms. Ullmann is the author of two books, Changing and Choices. She has also been active in directing various stage productions, including A Streetcar Named Desire, starring Cate Blanchett. In 2017, she brought the stage version of her 1996 Ingrid Bergman film Private Confessions to the stage performed by the National Theater of Norway at Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theater.
Ms. Ullmann is co-founder of the Women’s Refugee Commission and remains a passionate advocate for the rights of women, children and adolescent refugees worldwide. She is Honorary Vice Chair, International, for the International Rescue Committee, and has served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. Ms. Ullmann has been the recipient of a number of awards, including the Laureate Freedom from Want Award, the Ibsen Centennial Award, the best actress prize three times each from the National Society of Film Critics and the New York Film Critics Circle, and a Golden Globe. In 2005, King Harald V of Norway made her a Commander with Star of the Order of St. Olav. She received the ASF Gold Medal in 2019.
In 2022, she was received an Honorary Oscar at the 94th Annual Academy of Awards. In April, British Film Institute celebrated Liv Ullmann’s career with the month-long film festival “Liv Ullmann: Face to Face.”
About Tom Remlov
Tom Remlov has held a number of top management positions in the Norwegian arts world. He trained as an actor and director in London and worked in the British theatre for a number of years before returning to his native Norway. He was Artistic Director at Den Nationale Scene (The National Stage) in Bergen from 1986 to 1996; Managing Director and Executive Producer at the publicly owned studio and production company Norsk Film AS until 2001; CEO at Den Norske Opera & Ballett (The Norwegian Opera & Ballet) from 2008 to 2014; and Artistic Director at Riksteatret (The Norwegian National Touring Theatre) for a fixed tenure ending 2020.
All through his professional life Mr Remlov has been active as public speaker, educator, translator and writer, and has served on a wide range of committees and boards. Apart from a number of directorships, he is today Adjunct Executive in Residence at BI Norwegian Business School at the Department of Leadership and Organizational Behaviour.